Not all of us are blessed with large spaces, but that doesn’t mean they have to feel pokey and cramped. There’s some tricks of the trade that can seriously help to make your room feel much more open and spacious, and we’re going to let you in on them (we know, aren’t we kind!). Keep reading to find out how to make your room look bigger.
Receding colours are your new best friend.
Ever wondered how artists create depth in their paintings? You can use the same principle in your room. Be your own Picasso and opt for cooler, lighter blues, greens and lilacs as they tend to appear further away to us when teamed with warmer accessories and accents, making a space feel more expansive and open. Every day’s a school day.
A cool green shade like our Calming Green paint colour above is considered a receding colour and contributes to the optical illusion of a bigger, brighter, spacious room.
Eggshell for the win.
Natural light (or any light for that matter) is your best friend when it comes to making a room appear more spacious. Applying an eggshell paint finish to your walls will allow any light entering the space to bounce around much more easily, brightening every nook and cranny. Explore our eggshell paint range here and find the colour that's right for your space.
The space multiplier.
Mirrors are magical tools for small rooms. Not only do they reflect light like the eggshell finish, they also create the illusion of an extended space, the feeling of other rooms where there aren’t any! Strategically place mirrors to bounce light around the room, and marvel at how your room suddenly feels twice as big! Plus, you'll have a stylish way to check out your fabulous self.
If you've ever watched the 1999 cinematic masterpiece 'The Mummy' starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, then you already know the ancient Egyptian trick where you use mirrors to light up a space. Well, think of this as its contemporary version... and with less cobwebs. Plus, our Mellow Neutral paint colour definitely belongs in the room above.
Go big or go home.
OK, it may sound counterintuitive, but choosing fewer, well-proportioned furniture pieces can make a world of difference. When you fill a small room with lots of items, it can feel overwhelming. Instead, select a few key pieces that fit the scale of the room and provide a sense of purposeful design and balance.
Declutter for the soul.
Clutter is the killer of all calm and space, so clear out unnecessary items and keep only what you need or love, channel your inner Marie Kondo and ask if it ‘sparks joy’, if not, donate it or give it away to a needy friend. A clutter-free space not only appears larger but brings a sense of tranquillity and order to a once chaotic little world.
Sometimes less is, in fact, more. This children's bedroom painted with our Fresh Lilac paint on the walls and Mellow Teal paint on the wardrobe and chest of drawers is a great example to back up this saying.
When it comes to smaller spaces, it’s all an illusion baby! So use these handy hints if you want to make your room feel just that little bit bigger. They say size doesn’t matter, it's what you do with it that counts and we’ve proved that couldn’t be more true.
If you’re looking for a little help with choosing the right paint colours for your home decor palette, book a colour consultation with us. It's easy, it's fun... and there's a free option available too.
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